Day 2 of our vacation was the day I had several requests. I wanted some pool time and I wanted to eat at a local restaurant that had good seafood. We did both of those things that day.
Unfortunately the following morning after eating at that local restaurant, Doug's meal had given him (a light case) of food poisoning - ugh. But it was all good in the moment.
Doug woke up early and walked the beach. I was upset that I couldn't join him for morning walks on the beach because of my heel - which just solidified that I needed surgery. He would text me these amazing pictures though, so I enjoyed the walks vicariously...
He got back to the room and then we all went to eat a light breakfast at the club lounge.
Luckily we did not opt to eat breakfast on the outside balcony. The seagulls are FEARLESS. A man and woman were enjoying their meal outside when the man came back inside quickly to grab something. The bird flew up and started grabbing his food off of his plate when he left - with the woman sitting right there! She didn't even know what to do! The man went back out and woman shooed him away, but the couple eventually came back inside after that incident. And then the bird kept stalking the window after they left. Insane!
I started talking with one of the staff workers who said these birds are relentless...
We all went back to the room after breakfast and changed into our bathing suits for pool time...
This is the only day that Doug rented a cabana for us to enjoy - which included a number of different perks like refrigerated drinks, snacks, lunch and a color TV...
It was a beautiful day...
I love the Florida flowers...
After a couple of hours, we did order some food to split and frozen drinks off of the lunch menu (one of the meals we didn't eat at the club)...
Bri and I agreed that the nachos were some of the best we had ever had. So much cheese! So good.
As I sat and relaxed, I watched the young kids play in the pool...
I started feeling kind of sad in that moment. I miss the days where Briana loved to swim and had so much fun doing so. She doesn't love to swim anymore - she'll just jump in the water quickly to cool off and then she sits back on the lounge chair. And then I started thinking about her going off to school and how different life was going to be for all of us. I was definitely feeling melancholy.
After enjoying the pool for a number of hours, we were feeling kind of done. It was time to head back to the room.
After showers and freshening up, I walked outside on the balcony for a few moments (but it was warm, so I didn't stay out there long)...
We just rested in the room the rest of the afternoon and tried to decide which local restaurant we wanted to eat at for dinner (the second meal we didn't eat in the club lounge). We decided on the Salty Pelican...
It was unfortunately too warm to sit outside, so we ate inside. It was very crowded, but we got there early and got one of the last available tables. We were seated next to a very loud family of maybe 8 or 9 people (including a child), but we dealt with it.
The appetizer pretzel with beer cheese was amazing. Bri and I both opted for crab cakes (mine was a sandwich) and Doug got broiled oysters three ways (little did we know)...
Doug said his meal was pretty good and Bri and I thought our crab cakes were delish.
View as we left the restaurant...
We stopped in a little gift shop at the Ritz before heading back to the room. Look at this crazy expensive jeweled alligator (I zoomed in on the picture and I think it says it's $225,000)...
We obviously didn't walk out with the alligator, but we did get a few souvenirs.
Briana saw this pink ball cap and loved it (which surprised me because she's not really a pink girl)...
And then we saw an adorable bunny hopping on the grounds of the hotel...
Some ocean sound and wind sound...
Doug and Bri had booked a sailboat ride for the next day and I opted out. Number one - it was too difficult on my heel. Number two - I get seasick and I wasn't going to mess up their time like I did in Hawaii on the sailboat. I was totally ok just chilling at the hotel.
I was worried when Doug woke up not feeling well because Briana really wanted to go on the sailboat and I knew I couldn't take her. I'll let you know now that he persevered, went on the boat and actually enjoyed himself even though he wasn't 100%. He wasn't going to let Briana down. Best. Dad. Ever.
Day 3 next...
